Building a computer v. 1st time

Went on newegg and bought everything i think i need to make my own computer. here are the stats:

i'm not looking to build the ultimate high-end gaming computer so i can run oblivion on its highest settings . all i want is a decent computer that won't crap out on me for the next 3 years of college and modable when needed. i also don't know if the above parts are compatible with each other . help a nignog out?

1. The Hanns-G monitors are well-rated. I prefer LG myself, but if Hanns-G uses Philips panels then there would be no meaningful difference.

2. Don't get the Sound Blaster. Jollyogre can tell you what models of M-Audio cards have individual plugs on the back, instead of the breakout box that M-Audio usually uses. (If he can suggest one with a connector for front-panel audio, that would be even better.)

3. I have a friend who recently killed his My Book drive by simply knocking it over. Get a drive that you can lay on its side instead of standing on-end.

All the other recommendations I agree with, especially the one about avoiding the Rosewill case. Their cases are indescribably cheap.

what's the difference between nvidia and radeon? and what's wrong with the sound card :/

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nVidia makes GeForce video processors, and ATi makes Radeon video processors. (On the "prosumer" level, they also make Quadro and Fire GL processors, respectively.) ATi has a history of making clunky drivers, but under AMD's oversight they're getting steadily better. However, nVidia still holds the high ground at this point in time.

The problem with the Audigy is that it uses a proprietary interface for front-panel audio. Supposedly, M-Audio cards also have better sound quality, but I never had any complaints about my top-of-the-line Audigy 2ZS -- except that I couldn't use the front audio jacks on my case. If you don't care about this, it probably isn't an issue for you.

Also, if you're not an audiophile, then the 7.1 audio built into your motherboard should do just fine for you -- it's considerably better than AC'97.

nVidia makes GeForce video processors, and ATi makes Radeon video processors. (On the "prosumer" level, they also make Quadro and Fire GL processors, respectively.) ATi has a history of making clunky drivers, but under AMD's oversight they're getting steadily better. However, nVidia still holds the high ground at this point in time.

The problem with the Audigy is that it uses a proprietary interface for front-panel audio. Supposedly, M-Audio cards also have better sound quality, but I never had any complaints about my top-of-the-line Audigy 2ZS -- except that I couldn't use the front audio jacks on my case. If you don't care about this, it probably isn't an issue for you.

Also, if you're not an audiophile, then the 7.1 audio built into your motherboard should do just fine for you -- it's considerably better than AC'97.

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can you recommend any good 512 mb nvidia vid cards then? preferably in the $150 - $200 range

I just picked up that Hann-G monitor for my brother. It's nice. Decent build. Check www.zipzoomfly.com to possibly save a couple bucks here and there. They offer free Fedex on almost 95% of their stuff.

Doc, while your point about cheap cases without power supplies is valid, you don't know just how cheap Rosewill cases are. They're practically made of foil. I bought one, saw how cheap it was when it arrived, and threw it in a dumpster instead of spending the time and effort to get an RMA number. It was that bad.

Get this PSU instead (Corsair 520HX). It will last longer than the 450W power supply (because it will be able to power future devices that need more watts), and it has modular cables that actually don't suck, not even a little.

Doc, while your point about cheap cases without power supplies is valid, you don't know just how cheap Rosewill cases are. They're practically made of foil. I bought one, saw how cheap it was when it arrived, and threw it in a dumpster instead of spending the time and effort to get an RMA number. It was that bad.

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Well I was mainly thinking about the entry level Cooler Master cases.

They're only around $45 shipped after a $10 rebate or so.

I could think of something funny to do with a Rosewill case though.

I used to work at a place that had these big hydraulic presses. You could take one of them and just smash it into a cube and send it back to them with your sentiments.

Get this PSU instead (Corsair 520HX). It will last longer than the 450W power supply (because it will be able to power future devices that need more watts), and it has modular cables that actually don't suck, not even a little.

is it really necessary to spend that kind of money for a psu for the kind of system i want . it seems like you guys are pushing me towards something beyond my expectations, but you poeple are the experts, so i dunno

is it really necessary to spend that kind of money for a psu for the kind of system i want . it seems like you guys are pushing me towards something beyond my expectations, but you poeple are the experts, so i dunno

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You only need to get one cheap power supply that kills your equipment or sends you on a wild goose chase trying to figure out where the random bluescreens are coming from, and you'll understand why a good one is worth the money. Besides, if buying the one I recommended means you never have to get a bigger power supply for as long as you keep (and upgrade) the computer, then that will save you a decent chunk of change.

EDIT: I had a 460W Vantec PSU running an Athlon XP, three hard drives, and an nVidia 7600GS video card, and after a year it started making high-pitched whining noises, followed a few weeks later by random crashes during bootup. It seemed like it should have been good enough, but it wasn't. Your hardware is hungrier than mine is.

You only need to get one cheap power supply that kills your equipment or sends you on a wild goose chase trying to figure out where the random bluescreens are coming from, and you'll understand why a good one is worth the money. Besides, if buying the one I recommended means you never have to get a bigger power supply for as long as you keep (and upgrade) the computer, then that will save you a decent chunk of change.

EDIT: I had a 460W Vantec PSU running an Athlon XP, three hard drives, and an nVidia 7600GS video card, and after a year it started making high-pitched whining noises, followed a few weeks later by random crashes during bootup. It seemed like it should have been good enough, but it wasn't. Your hardware is hungrier than mine is.

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Exactly.

Plus you only really need to buy a PSU once in a great while, so you minus well get something nice that will last that long.

Also, I don't know how stuck you are on that CPU and mobo, but the e6750 has a faster fsb and is better for overclocking, not to mention cheaper. And a good gigabyte p36 ds3r will save you some money is more "future-proof" than that asus.

Also, I don't know how stuck you are on that CPU and mobo, but the e6750 has a faster fsb and is better for overclocking, not to mention cheaper. And a good gigabyte p36 ds3r will save you some money is more "future-proof" than that asus.